Envelop



(N0 Model.)

M. H. EATON. ENVELOP.

No. 594,235. Patented N0v.-23, 18971 YVitues-ses. Inventor.

mm, (2 m mm #fiai? Attorney.

Nrrnn STATES MOSES II. EATON, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELO P.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 594,235, dated November 23, 1897. Application filed April 20,1897. Serial No. 632,915. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MOSES H. EATON, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of Which Figure 1 is a plan view of an envelop in which my invention is embodied, the flap being opened out; Fig. 2, a similar View showing the flap turned over upon and secured to the body of the envelop; Fig. 3, a section, enlarged, on line a; m, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a plan View, partly broken off, showing a modification of a part of the invention.

This invention relates to and is designed to improve what are known as merchandiseenvelops, which are used for sending articles through the mail.

The improvement and invention consists, first, in combining with the envelop an elastic or spring wire or wires which is or are fastened to the envelop and extends either longitudinally or transversely, or both, as hereinafter described, whereby the envelop is stifiened, but if bent on the line of the wire or wires will return to the normal or flat position.

The improvement consists, secondly, in the combination, with the envelop, of such elastic wire fastened to and transversely along the free end of the fiap, together with means for securing the wire, and consequently the flap, when turned over on the body of the envelop in a manner that the flap may be readily released and refastened without mutilation of any part.

The improvement consists, finally, in a particular construction and means for thus securing the said wire and flap when the latter is turned over.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, ais the main body of the envelop, and b the flap. In making the envelop I insert in the blank along the line to be stiffened a piece of elastic wire, preferably flat, as shown, and of spring-steel. This wire is secured thereto by means of paste or the like. It may run longitudinally along the middle line of the envelop or transversely along the bottom of the latter, as also the free end of the flap, all as shown, or it may run longitudinally along the side edges of the envelop.

OrdinarilyI place the wires as shown-that is, one (marked 0) along the bottom, another, 0, midway longitudinally, and a third, 0 along the free end of the flap. I sometimes, however, dispense with the wires, excepting the one o fastened to the flap, and in order to secure the flap so that it may be readily closed and released I provide suitable means for locking the wire, and consequently the flap itself, to the body of the envelopsuch, for example, as that illustrated in the drawings and which I shall now describe, reference being had to Figs. 1, 2, and 3.

I make the free end of the flap of less width than that of the body of the envelop, as seen, and fasten to the former the piece of springwire 0 whose length is somewhat less than the width of the envelop, and I also make in the side of the latter, adjacent to the sides of the free end of the flap when folded over and in line with the wire, suitable apertures d, which may be a simple slot, as shown at the left of Figs. 1 and 2, or an eyelet, as seen at the right.

In turning over the flap the projecting ends of the wire are respectively inserted in the said apertures, as shown in Fig. 2, the clasticity of the wire allowing the operation to be readily and quickly performed, and although the flap will be thus well secured it may be as readily and quickly opened when desired.

In Fig. 4 I show a modified means for se curing the wire and turnedover flap. This consists in making a slit 6 in the flap immediately back of the inner edge of the wire 0 in connection with afastener f, that is secured to the envelop and has a pliable tongue g, of brass or the like, which tongue, when the flap is turned over, is passed through the said slit and is then bent over upon the side of the envelop, as shown. Obviously there will be no liability of the release of the flap by tearing away.

I am aware of the fact that there have heretofore been in use envelops having a flap to the free end of which was fastened a thin pliable strip of non-elastic metal, whose free ends projected beyond the sides of the flap and of the body of the envelop, which ends were bent over upon the latter. I am also aware that it is not new to secure the free ends of flaps of envelops by means of a tongue of the flap that was inserted into a suitable slot or other aperture in the body of the envelop.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination with an envelop of the class recited, of one or more straight elastic stiffening-wires secured thereto and extending across the length or width thereof, said wire or wires operating by reason of the elasticity thereof to preserve the flat position or contour of the envelop, substantially as described.

2. The combination with an envelop of the class recited, of elastic stiffening-wires secured thereto, one transversely along or across its bottom edge portion, a second midway longitudinally thereof, and a third along the free edge of its closing-flap, said wires operating by reason of their elasticity to preserve the normal fiat contour or position of the envelop, substantially as described.

In an envelop of the class recited, the

combination with the flap of the elastic stiffening-Wire along the free end thereof, the length of which wire is less than the width of the envelop, the ends of which wire project beyond the sides of the said tongue, together with the slots or the like in the body of the envelop whereby said ends of the wire can be sprung into said slots, and the wire then returned to the normal position, substantially as described.

4. In an envelop of the class recited, the combination with the closing-flap thereof, of a straight elastic stiffeningwire secured transversely along the free edge portion thereof and operating by reason of its elasticity to maintain the normal flat position of said flap, together with means whereby said wire and flap may be secured when the latter is turned over on the body of the envelop, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

MOSES II. EATON.

Witnesses:

JOSHUA Pussy, WALTER C. PUsEY. 

